FAIRFIELD, CT - Iona women's lacrosse team came out hot in the first quarter with four goals and kept the Stags to one goal. But the next three quarters were all the stags as their offense heated up and secured the victory 18-11 with a strong second half. Amber Brewster, Kira Varada, Emily Stewart, and Gabriele Thornton all record two goals in the game.      

GAME SUMMARY

Thornton got Iona on the board first on their second possession of the game. Thornton went five hole from a good distance for an unassisted goal and her 18th of the year. Couple minutes later Thornton fed the reigning Rookie of the Week for the Gaels second goal of the game. The Iona offense stayed hot as the nation's leader in free position efficiency scored her 12th free position goal of the year and extended the early Iona lead to 3-0. 

After a Stag timeout, freshman goalie Sofia Votto made a point blank save on a free position shot. The Stags snuck one past Votto with 5:30 left on the clock in the first half to trim the Iona lead to 3-1. Amber Brewster did not waste any time after the home team's goal to regain the 3 three goal lead for the Gaels. Two turnovers on two clear attempts by the Gaels led to good chances for the Stags but big saves by Votto kept this game at 4-1. 

Iona still up by three entering the second quarter, but a goal by the host team in the first two minutes made it a two goal game. A third straight goal by the stags tied things up at 4-4, forcing an Iona timeout. After a slow start to the second quarter Brewster notched her second of the game and gave the Gaels a one goal lead. Fairfield answered right away and tied it back up.

Megan Collins found a cutting Emma Rippon for the Gaels sixth goal of the game and Iona took back the lead, 6-5 with 6:01 left in the first half. A late first half turnover by the Iona defense led to a Stag goal and gave Fairfield their first lead of the day. Two big saves in the final seconds by Votto kept the Gaels down by one entering the halftime break.

Four minutes into the second half Megan Collins went short side for a very nice goal and tied things up at 7-7. The Stags re-took the lead but a goal by Varada tied things back up at 8-8. The back and fourth third quarter kept going with Fairfield retaking the lead, 9-8 with 6 minutes left on the clock. 

Stewart scores her 29th of the year and second of the day to knott things up at 9-9 with 5 minutes left to play in the third frame. The stags were the first team to record double digit goals on the day with a score giving them the one goal lead back. Back to back goals but the defending champs gave them a two goal lead with 18 minutes left to play in the game. Fairfield capitalized on a free position chance late in the third, and a last second goal gave the stags their largest lead of the day entering the fourth quarter, 13-9.

The Maroon & Gold were outscored 5-2 in the final quarter, as the Gaels were unable to comeback for the win. The fourth quarter goals came off the sticks of Meyer and Thornton. Iona falls to 7-3 on the season and 0-2 in conference play.      

UP NEXT

Iona will make the annual trip to buffalo this coming weekend to battle Canisuis and Saturday, April 2 at 11 am. 

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